What is e-commerce?
E-commerce is another way to describe online shopping. For MDS, e-commerce represents the system our customers use to purchase goods from our vendors in a single shopping experience.How do I connect to the MDS e-commerce system?
- Visit the MDS e-commerce site by visiting http://mds.bussvc.wisc.edu/order
- Click the "Been Here" button.
- Enter your MD Number (eg: MD12345) and your password. Passwords are case-sensitive.
- Click the "Enter" button.
I have an MD number but I can't connect to the e-commerce site!
1. Are you entering your MD Number correctly? The format required is MD12345
2. Check your internet browser. We strongly suggest you use Internet Explorer for our e-commerce system.
3. Still no luck? Contact MDS customer support at mdscsr@bussvc.wisc.edu, 608-497-4400 (press 1 when prompted).
How do I contact customer service?
An up-to-date list of contact information for MDS and its vendors: Contacts.pdf (103 kb).How do I change my password?
If you know your current password, log into the e-commerce site and click the "MD# Password Page" link on the red navigation bar on the left-hand side of the screen.If you do not know your current password, contact MDS Customer Support mdscsr@bussvc.wisc.edu, 608-497-4400. For security purposes, we can only give password information to an account holder.
How do I order a vendor catalog?
Staples Advantage
Enter the Staples Advantage site via the MDS e-commerce system and add the following item to your order: CEIUSSU2011
Grainger
Visit the following website to have a catalog sent to you:
https://jacksongroup.grainger.com/CatalogRequest/ExternalRequest.aspx
VWR
Visit the following website to have a catalog sent to you:
http://www.vwrsp.com/catalog/request/index.cgi?tmpl=form_request
Fisher Scientific
In the MDS e-commerce site, type the following on the white search box on the top left side of the screen: “9999”.
How do I order a record storage carton?
In the MDS e-commerce site, type the following on the white search box on the top left side of the screen: “record storage”.
Does MDS charge for shipping?
Within the Madison area: Sigma-Aldrich and Dell orders may incur shipping charges since product is shipped direct to your location. For UW-Madison campus and non UW-Madison customers, there is no charge for delivery from the other online vendors. MDS also picks up returns, empty gas cylinders and outgoing UPS shipments at no charge in the Madison area.
Outside the Madison area: Sigma-Aldrich orders will incur a shipping charge however other vendor shipments do not. Returns are usually shipped at the vendor's expense. UW-Madison customers shipping their orders to other cities will incur a shipping charge.
Special handling fees: Fees may apply for Sigma-Aldrich orders or if a special service is requested of a vendor.
How do I get an MD Number?
UW-Madison Customers: visit this website to complete the appropriate form www.bussvc.wisc.edu/mds/custform.htmlCustomers outside UW-Madison: please contact MDS Customer support to request a new account form. mdscsr@bussvc.wisc.edu, 608-497-4400 (press 1 when prompted).
How do I check the status of my order?
MDS offers resources inside the e-commerce system for order investigation. They’re located on the red Navigation Bar on the left-hand side of the screen.
Order Status
This page identifies pending orders. Orders appear here for one of two reasons:
1. An item is back-ordered. (Check the “Shipped” and “Ordered” columns. If the Shipped quantity is smaller than the Ordered amount, the item is back-ordered.)
2. The order is “in transit” between the MDS e-commerce system and the Vendor’s e-commerce system. (This does not mean the order is on hold. In some cases this information is processed after an order has shipped.)Invoice Status
This provides a snapshot of your last 60 days of purchases. The information is presented in invoice form. Simply click on the invoice number to see a copy of the invoice.
What do I do with this information?
- In all cases, we urge you to first check with the building dock to ensure your order hasn’t actually arrived without your knowledge. This is especially true with purchases that appear in the Invoice Status page.
- If the item you’re waiting for is back-ordered, contact the vendor of that product to get a delivery estimate.
- If you still haven’t received your goods and the order has been sitting in the Order Status page for more than 2 business days, please call MDS Customer Service to inquire.
mdscsr@bussvc.wisc.edu, 608-497-4400 (7:45 AM – 4:30PM, press 1 when prompted)
How do I return my empty gas cylinder?
Madison Customers: MDS will pick up your empty Gas Cylinders and return them for you. Simply visit the following website, follow the directions and complete the form: www.bussvc.wisc.edu/mds/GasPickUp.html Please note we cannot pick up cylinders without caps. To obtain a cap, please contact the local Airgas Representative, Alan at (608) 241-1736.How do I return a product?
Please visit the Return Policy page for background information.
To request a pickup (Madison area only), please use this online form.
What is SWAP?
SWAP is UW-Madison’s surplus redistribution wing. MDS shares an office and a warehouse with SWAP. To learn more, visit http://bussvc.wisc.edu/swapHelp, I forgot my Password/MD Number!
Contact MDS Customer Support mdscsr@bussvc.wisc.edu, 608-497-4400. For security purposes, we can only give this information to a listed account holder.How can our department receive further training in person?
We can provide small or large group training sessions on efficient use of the MDS e-commerce system. Please contact Mike Marean directly at mmarean@bussvc.wisc.edu, 608-497-4400 to arrange.Periodically, MDS hosts training sessions on campus as part of Purchasing Services’ “How to Purchase Goods and Services” workshops. Dates and times of upcoming sessions will be posted on our homepage.
What are Parent/Child Accounts?
Parent/Child accounts are a service provided to individuals who manage multiple MD accounts for their department. The Parent/Child account allows one individual to make purchases and to monitor the activity of any MD account they control. This is all done without disturbing the login process for the assigned MD account holder.
Parent/Child accounts are activated and updated by MDS staff. To request a Parent/Child account, please contact MDS Customer Service: mdscsr@bussvc.wisc.edu, 608-497-4400 (7:45 AM – 4:30PM, press 1 when prompted).
How can I split or reallocate costs between my funding?
Use the Pre-Posting Allocation Tool (PAT) to change or split the funding for MDS purchases before they are posted to WISDM. Transactions for each MDS account are posted in PAT on a nightly basis. Department representatives may then login to PAT and adjust/allocate the funding for those transactions. On the third business day of the following month at noon, transactions will be locked and further changes will not be allowed within PAT. After the transaction has posted to WISDM, you will need to use a Non-Salary Cost Transfer to reallocate the expense.
Why does my ship-to address say Verona? (Madison area customers only)
Madison area customers will see the correct street address and wrong city-state-zip showing on their orders. The "Verona, WI 53593" address lines directs vendors to deliver product to MDS's Verona warehouse for distribution to customers' local street addresses.
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- Web Ordering System
- E-Commerce and Vendor Catalog Links
- How to Buy From MDS
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Customer Number / Change Request Form
- Pre-Posting Allocation Tool (PAT)
- Returns
- Monthly News
- Pick-Up Request Form
- Map & Directions
- Policies and Procedures
- MDS Directory
- Questions, Comments, Suggestions
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- Purchasing Services Home
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- SWAP (Surplus With A Purpose)